Number formatting framework

Abstract

A method and system for formatting numerical information. An object-based operating system provides various number formatting services. Some objects scan text and convert the text to numerical information, and convert non-text numerical information to text, and convert between different numerical formats and languages. The system provides a common ground from which application programs can speak a seemingly common numerical language without specifying the details of converting numerical information between systems of representation. The present system relieves application developers of the burden of handling details of numerical information, and provides ease of information transfer between monetary systems and cultures having differing languages. The system also provides for conversion between number formats to allow for easier processing and/or comprehension of the numerical information, and normalization and alignment of any textual representation of numeric information.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the apparatus converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising: (a) a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number;   (b) a number formatter framework residing in the storage having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; and   (c) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the number formatting classes includes at least one text-to-number conversion method for converting text to at least one number. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the text-to-number conversion method includes: at least one method for converting text to the standard intermediate form; and wherein the canonical number formatter object includes:   at least one method for converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one number-to-text method for converting numerical information into text. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one number-to-text method includes means for providing a confidence indication. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the number-to-text conversion method includes: at least one method for converting numerical information in the standard intermediate form to a text form.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes class code for instantiating at least one object for managing language-specific numerals. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one method for formatting positive and negative numbers. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one method for managing out of bounds processing. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymorphic instantiation means includes: (a) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a first number formatter object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes for attempting a first conversion of numerical information and for returning a confidence value indicating the results of the first conversion attempt; and   (b) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a second number formatter object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes for performing a second conversion when the first conversion results in a confidence value which does not meet predetermined criteria.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number formatter framework includes class code for instantiating at least one object for mapping character-values. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 1, including display means for dynamically aligning any textual representation of numbers. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of number formatting classes has methods for formatting numerical information in an additive format. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of number formatting classes has methods for formatting numerical information in a positioned format. 
     
     
       15. A computer implemented method for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the method converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number, and comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number;   (b) storing a number formatting framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form;   (c) polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes in response to numerical information in the first format; and   (d) converting the numerical information in the first format to a binary number using methods in the number formatting object.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first format is text and step (d) includes the step of: (d1) converting numerical information in text format to at least one binary number.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (d1) includes the steps of: (d1a) converting text to a standard intermediate form; and   (d1b) converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (d1a) includes the step of generating conversion result information based on the conversion operation. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of generating conversion result information includes the step of providing a confidence indication. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 15, including the step of: (e) Using the number formatter object to convert at least one binary number to text.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, wherein step (e) includes the steps of: (e1a) converting at least one binary number to a standard intermediate form; and   (e1b) converting the standard intermediate form to a textual form.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d2) converting numerical information in the first format with language-specific numerals to a binary number.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d3) formatting positive and negative numbers.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d4) detecting an out of bounds processing condition.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the steps of: (d5) attempting a first conversion of numerical information and generating a confidence value based on the conversion; and   (d6) performing a second conversion when the confidence value does not meet predetermined criteria.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d7) dynamically aligning and displaying any textual representation of numeric information.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of mapping character values. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of formatting numerical information in an additive format. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of formatting numerical information in a positional format. 
     
     
       30. A computer program product for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the computer program product converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number;   (b) a number formatter framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form;   (c) program code for loading the number formatter framework into the storage; and   (d) program code responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.   
     
     
       31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of the number formatting classes includes at least one text-to-number conversion method for converting text to at least one number. 
     
     
       32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the text-to-number conversion method includes: at least one method for converting text to the standard intermediate form; and wherein the canonical number formatter object includes:   at least one method for converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.   
     
     
       33. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one number-to-text method for converting numerical information into text.